The commercial and industrial parcels in the Santa Ana River Watershed are adorned with nearly 10,000 acres of irrigated turf and more than 22,000 acres are irrigated in some way. Another 158,000 acres are covered by impervious surfaces.

Approximately 70 percent of these parcels are within subwatersheds with impaired waterbodies.

Approximately 29 percent of these parcels are within 100- and 500-year flood zones.

Approximately 55,000 acres are suitable for groundwater infiltration and recharge.

Converting existing commercial and industrial landscapes to sustainable landscapes can provide substantial sustainability benefits for the region. For example, reducing water use by 55 percent on 10,000 acres of irrigated turf (roughly equivalent to recent state requirements for new commercial and industrial landscaping) would save almost 21,000 acre-feet of water per year. The conversions also can help reduce flooding and pollution while recharging groundwater.

The report also evaluated the business community’s motivations and challenges. The report identifies eight strategies to develop programs and policies that effectively encourage businesses to act:

Foster long-term relationships between water managers and the business community.

Streamline approval and permitting process.

Explore alternative funding sources.

Coordinate policies and programs across the watershed.

“Business and civic leaders are ready to take action to make our communities and watersheds more sustainable and resilient. This report illuminates a path forward for multi-benefit landscape investments to support these goals,” said Jim Mayer, CEO of CA Fwd.

The One Million Acre-feet Challenge seeks advance state and regional policies and actions to capture, conserve, and reuse one million acre-feet of water each year for the next 10 years to close the gap between available supplies and the needs of people, business, agriculture, and the environment.